Friday, January 8, 2016

Mica Mosbacher was barely hanging on. A
single mother of a son, she worked in retail while she established a career as
an award-winning writer. Feeling unlucky in romance after two failed marriages,
she gave up on her dreams. In her early 40s, she met the love of her life,
oilman mogul and 28th US Secretary of Commerce, Robert Mosbacher Sr. A modern
day commoner who went on to meet and entertain heads of states and Royals, Mica
turned out to be a kind of Houston Cinderella.Mica married her prince and soul
mate only to lose him to pancreatic cancer leaving her heart broken. But
instead of wallowing in pain, she decided to grieve forward. Her brother, a
racecar driver, inspired her to learn to race a Ferrari. Testing her personal
limits on the racetrack, she discovered her inner strength to move forward.Life
brings losses on a regular basis. Whether it’s a garden variety loss or a life
changing one―debilitating illness, divorce, death―it requires a resiliency,
optimism and faith.

We were intent on making a difference. My
daughter-in-law often says that I like to make waves. So does Ellen [Cohen]!
Together we united to create a tsunami. A vocal defender of sexual assault
victims… (pg. 95)

It was a splendid ceremony, one that
marked a middle-class “commoner” proving she was worthy of a prince. Letizia
Ortiz represented the future of Spain in a progressive world. (pg.96)

I suppose that’s what reality is: a
dream-like experience shattered with the clanging of an emergency. No wonder we
lose ourselves in fairy tales. (pg. 97)

I recall being dropped off within walking
distance amid a sea of protesters. I admit I was nervous—the protesters seemed
very hostile—but I was also upset. While they may not have agreed with Reagan’s
policies and actions as President, making a scene at his funeral was, more than
anything, disrespectful. (pg. 97)

We [also] saluted our country, which we
both held most dear. It was hard not to be affected, after having so recently
said good-bye to an American President beloved by many. I remain impressed with
Ronald Reagan to this day. He was able to connect with people and bridge
differences. In this era of partisan bickering, our country could use someone
like him. (pg. 99)

HALL WAYS REVIEW:

In Racing Forward,
when author Mica Mosbacher says, "Loss. How I hate that four-letter
word," she has plenty of reasons to mean it since she reminds readers that
loss comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. It's clear that Mosbacher has
faced some serious losses in her life: failed marriages, single mom-ing,
lay-offs, sexual discrimination and abuse, health crises, and becoming a
widow. But just as clear is that despite the challenges, Mosbacher never
lost faith in God or lost hope that something better was always around the
corner. Through the years, Mosbacher’s circumstances forced her to
constantly reinvent herself and adapt, which makes for a fascinating memoir.

With the cover
picture, title, and book blurb, it's no surprise to readers where the story
will lead them. Mosbacher uses subtle and not-so-subtle driving/racing
analogies throughout the book leading up to her joining a race team. For
example, in reflecting back on time when she had to get some counseling, Mica
says, "I learned to react to a change in the road conditions of my
life." This recurring theme threads the book together in a great way
and encapsulates Mosbacher's approach to life.

Racing Forward is very well edited and Mosbacher's voice is
authentic, but I am not sure how many readers will be able to relate to the
majority of the story. While Mosbacher strives to weave in the
"commonality" of all women in having to do and be everything (Super
Woman) for the people in their lives -- the message often falls flat because it
is so heavily countered by Mosbacher's privilege. Where many women would
be lucky to take a long lunch to recover from burning the candle at both ends,
Mosbacher took trips to France or relaxed on a sail boat in Florida. Her privilege
doesn't lessen the sting of the losses she endured, but the financial and
emotional resources available to her -- even in the worst of times -- put a
real distance between her and readers living from paycheck to paycheck with
little or no support at all.

Racing Forward is probably best for people who like to peek inside the world of the
social elite and who enjoy living vicariously through someone else's brushes
with celebrity. Mosbacher includes detailed memories of elaborate events and
meals, right down to what was served to the guests. For me, however, with the
endless name dropping, I found myself skipping pages as paragraph after
paragraph mentioned someone famous with whom Mosbacher or her husband had
interacted. There are certainly universal lessons to be learned by all, and
Mosbacher's life, her perseverance, and her faith are fascinating and
inspiring.

Michele (Mica) Mosbacher, widow of the
28th U.S. Secretary of Commerce and oilman Robert Mosbacher, Sr., was
commissioned as an Honorary Consul of Iceland, Houston and Central Texas, in
2010 by the Foreign Ministry of Iceland. She is an author, motivational speaker
and proud sponsor of Godstone Ranch Motorsports, a family professional
motorsports team that races for charitable causes.

She currently serves on the boards of the
Houston Ballet, University of

Houston; and was appointed by Governor
Perry to the steering committee of the Aga Khan Foundation. Mica previously
served as a director of the American Hospital Foundation, receiving the board’s
highest honor presented by Ambassador Howard Leach at the United States Embassy
in Paris.

Focused on education, Mica previously
served as on the University of Houston’s Board of Regents and the board of
Strake Jesuit Preparatory School. Mica implemented Best Friends, a character
education program and the Raoul Wallenberg Heroes program in the Houston
Independent School District in the late 90s.

Ball, Woodrow Wilson Gala, Museum of Fine
Arts Costume Institute and American Hospital of Paris Foundation. With her
husband Bob, she co-chaired the M.D. Anderson Milestones and Miracles
celebration, honoring President George H.W. Bush, that raised more than $10
million (a record at the time). M.D. Anderson Cancer Center’s pastoral outreach
group honored Mica, and she was named Pacesetter of the Year by the Cancer
Assistance League.

In April of 2011, Houston Mayor Anise
Parker honored her with “Mica Mosbacher Day” for her initiation of the
prominent public art installation, “On Tolerance,” featuring sculptures by
world-class sculptor, Jaume Plensa.

In 2013, Mica was appointed by Her
Majesty the Queen to the Order of St. John; in 2012 she was awarded the Silver
Good Citizenship Medal, the highest honor from the Texas Society, Sons of the
American Revolution. She was named Philanthropist of the Year in 2007 by TAASA
(Texas Association Against Sexual Assault). Mica was named Knight Commander of
the Order of King Francis I.

In 2008, Mica was inducted into the
Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame along with Barbara
Bush and other prominent Houstonians. A journalist, she has received
prestigious writing awards for feature articles. Her career began in 1972, when
as an intern at KPRC-TV/NBC in Houston, she was among the first female
reporters on camera and radio and while an intern, Mica acquired an exclusive
interview during a famous murder trial. She later pursued a career in print
journalism and freelance writing.

A longtime horse lover, Mica is a former
champion in the American Saddleseat Amateur Walk-Trot Division. She won her
first horse show at the Dallas State Fair riding J Miller and was trained by
Charles Smith at Tri-Oaks Stables in Houston.

Active in political fundraising, Mica has
served as a co-chair on many statewide and national campaigns.